8 best apps for hill walkers, backpackers and mountain lovers

24th January 2014

Many of us now use a variety of smartphone apps when we’re out on the mountains. So from our experience, and from tgomagazine.co.uk readers, we’ve come up with the best iPhone and Android apps used on the mountains

1. Best for Navigation: ViewRanger OutDoors GPS

By some distance, the mapping app Viewranger was the most mentioned on Facebook and Twitter. The Great Outdoors’ gear editor Chris Townsend awarded it the Best Buy in the February issue, saying: “ViewRanger is an app that turns a smartphone or tablet into a fully-featured GPS unit.”

Paul Isles said: ViewRanger GPS – fantastic bit of kit…

Nick Wilson said: ViewRanger. I have My Tracks too, and use it to import a GPX file from View ranger and upload it to Google Maps.

This app has got me off a mountain (and if I’m honest, I use it a little too much). Its simplicity is what makes it so good. All the mapping apps here will show a map grid reference to check against your paper map, and should work offline as long as there’s a GPS signal. GridPoint GB does this on a very simple page, and also demonstrates where you are within that square. It can always be worked out of course.

Kevin Walker Mountain Activities said: “I find Gridpoint GB really useful… I use it as a confidence-booster on my advanced navigation courses!” And to complete the sneak plug: http://bit.ly/19mCvZE

3. Best for list-lovers: Hill Lists (£1.49)

Hill baggers unite! – this fun app lists all the Munros, Welsh 3000s, the 214 Wainwrights, the Irish 900s and, ahem, Trail Magazine’s 100 list. Lesser known lists are also available: Donalds, HuMPs, Deweys and the Nuttalls. When it’s bagged simply find it in the list, hit climbed and it keeps a tally of the date climbed.

4. Best for photographers: 645 PRO (£1.99)

Photographer Ray Wood said: “Probably my favourite, although the interface can look a little daunting and the buttons are fiddly, is the 645 Pro app, which is quite sophisticated and allows you to choose the compression (size) and ‘look’ of your photos. It also has a number of useful built-in filters such as a graduated neutral density filter for darkening bright skies. PureShot from the same developers offers no filters or image processing within the app.”

5. Best, ever: Peak Scanner (£1.99)

OK slightly over the top, but this is bloomin good. It’s the first app that uses augmented reality effectively for the mountains. Simply hold it up and you’ll see what peaks are around you. What isn’t to like?

6. Best for trekkers: AdventureM’Apps (£6.99)

AdventureM-apps creates digital products that are both guidebooks and maps of the world’s most exciting treks, climbs and mountain bike routes. Everest Base Camp is out now, but there are plans for GR20 in Corsica, Tour De Mont Blanc, Manaslu Circuit, Nepal and Annapurna Base Camp.http://adventurem-apps.com/

7. Best for photograpgers (again): The Photographer’s Ephemeris ($8.99)

This is really brilliant. And thanks to Anne Johnston Photography who said: “I use The Photographer’s Ephemeris so I can plan my sunsets and sunrises.”It’s a map-centric sun and moon calculator: see how the light will fall on the land, day or night, for any location on earth.

8. Best to check the weather: Met Office (free app)

The Met Office is the national weather forecasting organisation for the UK. The user interface in their app isn’t quite as intuitive as AccuWeather but the information is straight from the horse’s mouth. We’re ready for the Mountain Weather app now!

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